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Silent-Snail

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Found an Enfield with a sporter stock for $89 plus tax, and was wonderin if anyone has advice on what to look for and avoid. If I remember correctly its a Mk1 No3.
I would like to give it an original stock or a decent replica.

Thanks in advance,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Snail :)

PS Whats a good price for .303 ammo.
 
I'm in a similar boat with you. I bought a No.4 Mk2 last weekend. Mine still has the original stocks but they have that Ishapore screw through them so I'm going to replace them.

Stocks aren't difficult to come by. You'll see plenty of them for sale on ebay as well as various web sites.

If they still have them in stock ;) you can buy a set from AIM Surplus. It doesn't say anything about the metalwork though, so you may need to do a little more digging around.

Other informative websites I have been frequenting this past week that you might want to check:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/

http://www.aloofhosting.com/enfieldrifles/

http://www.303british.com/

So far ammo can be a bit pricey. The absolute cheapest surplus .303 is going to be POF, which from what I am reading is to be avoided. It's old Pakistani ammo that is as likely to be a dud as not. The best surplus (and difficult to find at this point) is supposedly Greek non-corrosive. I suspect that if I really get in to shooting this rifle it will be what finally pushes me over in to reloading.
 
AIM has boxes of 32 rounds for $4.95. I usually find this ammo at gunshows for around $8.00.
You should be able to restore this rifle and still keep it at a reasonable price.
 
Springfield Sporters has the metal parts you'll need.

As for ammo, PMP's "Safari" line of .303 is available in a 174grn SP and FMJ that are both loaded to original specs so it's just what the original sights are regulated for. Hot-Shot .303 is good stuff as well. Avoid any mil-surp ammo marked POF like it was the plague. It's AWFUL! British mil-surp in the 32 round boxes is usually ok, but it's corrosively primed. Greek mil-surp with the HXP headstamp is excellent and re-loadable. Look for it in 48 round boxes and sometimes in bandoleers and chargers. South African mil-surp marked 7.7X56 and dated in the '80s is very good, non-corrosive, but not re-loadable. Look for it in 50 round boxes. South African in bandoleers is older and should be regarded as corrosive. It can also be "click-bang" ammo as well.

As far as "corrosive" priming, have no fear. Just flush your bore with hot water after firing, then clean normally.
 
I am rolling my own 308 for my Ishy 2A and also making my own 303 British for my No1 MkIII. Eliminates the corrosive ammo issue.

Mine still has the original stocks but they have that Ishapore screw through them so I'm going to replace them.
Click to expand...

What wrong with the Ishy screw?

ZM
 
As far as "corrosive" priming, have no fear. Just flush your bore with hot water after firing, then clean normally.
Click to expand...

What he said. Before you got the rifle, probably the only thing it was fed was corrosive. If its still in good shape after all these years, then it'll be good in many more years.

And Enfields are sweet rifles. My No.4 Mk.1 is my favorite mil-surp rifle.

About the ammo, I picked up what appears to be Iraqi ammo from a local dealer for $10 for 50 rds. I also bought a box of that Pakistani stuff from sportsmansguide, but haven;t had a chance to try it yat.
 
For the benefit of the fellow who said that the Pakistani ammo was WWII-issue, think: Pakistan as a nation didn't exist until 1947, when it split off from the former British India, as that nation gained independence.

Lone Star
P.S. I prefer Federal or Winchester commercial .303, especially for hunting. Quality control is likely better than with milsurp, and you know what you're getting.
 
New to Enfields
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Quickly! Run the other way before the affliction takes hold! There is still time before Enfields completely infest your gun safe!!! :rolleyes:

Enfields are very nice weapons and they are addictive... :D

Winchester white box .303 is the only commercial ammo mine sees, all others are my reloads...

Good luck...
 
What wrong with the Ishy screw?
Click to expand...

Other than aesthetics? Nothing. But it gives me an excuse to buy a new set of stocks (I found a complete set on ebay, including the bayonet). I've got pictures of an unissued No4Mk2. I'm going to try to make it look as close as possible.
 
I've shot some of PMP's 174gr SP offering. It's good stuff. Got mine from Cabela's for $12/20rds. You maybe can find it a little cheaper, but I haven't yet. Tried Winchester's 180gr SP in the same rifle and it hit at least a foot high at 100yds. PMP is a little high, but just about dead on.

Been looking at those No4 Mk1 deals at AIM. Gonna have to get two or three. At least one with the micrometer rear sight and another one to sporterize.:D
 
If they still have them in stock you can buy a set from AIM Surplus. It doesn't say anything about the metalwork though, so you may need to do a little more digging around.
Click to expand...

The AIM stocks are pretty nice, but they are unfinished, so you need some BLO, Tung oil, or whatever you want to use to finish it (plus sandpaper). Occasionally, you can find the metalwork on e-bay, but I have seen some go for some pretty ridiculous prices.
 
For the benefit of the fellow who said that the Pakistani ammo was WWII-issue, think: Pakistan as a nation didn't exist until 1947, when it split off from the former British India, as that nation gained independence.
Click to expand...

WHen the boxes are marked Pakistani ordinance factory and dated 1943, it's safe to assume they're WWII issue.
 
The stuff I got in 32 round boxes is dated 1943 and 1944. The box is marked I.S.A.A Mk 7 and the casing has GB1944 or GB1933 on it. I have always assumed that this was British ammo. I have never had a misfire with it and I shoot 2" groups with it in a Maltby #4 Mk1 (3-4" groups in my other Enfields). Corrosive never bothers me because that is what was originally fired in these firearms and I make sure and clean it with hot water and then standard cleaning materials. Never have had any problems in 10 years of collecting. Bores that were shiny 10 years ago still are shiny today even after hundreds/thousands of rounds.
 
POF 1943? I've never seen it dated that early.

GB is british, though I can't remember exactly which factory off the top of my head. The WWII Brit stuff is usually way better than the Paki.
 
GB is british, though I can't remember exactly which factory off the top of my head.
Click to expand...

Greenwood and Batley, Leeds, UK

If it's GB ammo, it was made before 1957, which I believe was the last year of their ammo production. Undoubtedly corrosive, probably a dirty but accurate ammo.
 
Just found a No4 Mk1. Price is $139, has a piece of wood that wobbles (I think its the handgaurd), and is marked US PROPERTY on the left of the reciever.

Does the US PROPERTY mean anything other than at one time the Fed Gov owned it, and if I decide to buy it should I worry about the wood?

Is $20 a good price for .303 ammo. I think its Remington, and cant be more than 20 rounds . It comes in a yellow and green box (Please no Packer references :neener: ).
 
The US Property on the side indicates it was made by Savage for the Brits. $20 is too high for .303, unless it's hunting ammo. HotShot from AIM or S&B will only run $6-$8 per 20 rounds.

The handguards sometimes worked themselves a bit loose, not a big deal. The barrel is floated in the forend anyway. You can always make a shim out of thin cardboard or balsa to shore it up if it bothers you. Sounds like a good deal if it's in nice shape otherwise. Savage made more No4's than any other maker, tho many are at the bottom of the Atlantic.
 
I've shot a lot of S&B .303 and it's quite accurate. Enough so I hit targets at 950 yards with iron sights.
 
gotta bookmark/subscribe to this thread... just stopped by the "toystore" tonight and my "US Property" savage No4 Mk1 is in, unfortunately i can't pick it up till MAYBE friday (depending on if i can get off work in time to get to the shop by 6:30):( time to start looking for ammo and acessories :D

where's the best place to look for ammo?

in other words who stocks PMP..... midway??
 
Like I said, I got my PMP .303 ammo from Cabela's. If your local dealer will order anything you want if they can find it, you maybe can get it that way.

I shoot the 174grSP and Cabela's has 174gr BT-FMJ (match) for the same money. It's loaded to the old British MkVll ball spec which is what the sights are calibrated to.

I'd advise you to plan on reloading.
 
I'd advise you to plan on reloading
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i do, in fact either this weekend or in two weeks (next payday) an order to midway for a set of dies and a single stage starter kit will be in the works.

brings up the question of, do any of the reloading manuals out there have a load(s) notated as being equivilent to the MkVII loading?? if so which book(s)?
 
i do, in fact either this weekend or in two weeks (next payday) an order to midway for a set of dies and a single stage starter kit will be in the works.
Click to expand...

In addition to the standard FL sizing die, I suggest a 303 British neck sizing die. The rear locking bolt causes cases to stretch a bit more than, say a Mauser bolt action. The British also cut the chambers on some SMLE's a bit generous to aid feeding and function in crappy battle environments.

ZM
 
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